The internal scientific evaluation of knowledge claims done by peer review is todayhas for the last
20 years been supplemented by new methods of knowledge assessment. These methods are usually
taken from other sectors such as the public administration and the corporate sector. Because of their
different backgrounds compared to the peer review method, it is necessary to critically examine
them in relation to assessment of quality. But this also calls for a new understanding of science and
knowledge. The article starts by briefly explaining this new understanding, before going into more
details on the new methods of knowledge assessment and the perspectives behind them.